A recent survey by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has shown that twenty per cent of surveyed Australians have reported some form of tooth pain over the past year. These can be attributed to tooth decay, an infected tooth cavity, an infected dental pulp or dental trauma. The affected tooth can cause severe pain, radiating to neighbouring teeth.
Extracting an infected tooth was the only way to address these dental issues. Modern improvements in the dental field have enabled dental specialists to find a way around the problem to help patients keep their natural smile while treating infected teeth. A dental procedure known as a root canal treatment can help alleviate the pain while letting you keep your natural teeth.
What is a Root Canal Treatment?
A root canal treatment is also known as an endodontic treatment or an endodontic therapy. It is a dental procedure wherein a hole is drilled into the affected tooth to access the dental pulp chamber and root canals. The dental pulp is the part of your tooth that holds the nerves and blood vessels responsible for blood supply.
Once the dental pulp is removed along with the tooth’s root, the chamber is thoroughly cleaned and filled with a substance called gutta-percha. A permanent crown is placed over the tooth to seal and protect it. After the treatment, your dentist may prescribe using a mouth guard when sleeping to protect the treated area and aid in root canal recovery.
One of the benefits of root canal treatment is the ability to preserve the natural tooth, which can be owed to modern techniques in root canal therapy. A general dentist or a specialist endodontist can do a root canal process.
Benefits of a Root Canal Treatment
Besides preserving your natural smile, there are other benefits of a root canal treatment.
Prevents Tooth Loss
An adult tooth does not need the pulp for nutrition as it comes from the surrounding tissues. A root canal procedure prevents tooth loss by removing the infected tooth pulp and preserving the tooth’s integrity. This prevents tooth extraction and addresses the underlying cause of dental pain: a root canal infection. A treated tooth can be kept indefinitely with proper dental care after the initial root canal therapy.
Prevents Infection of Neighboring Teeth
Bacteria from an infected pulp can spread to neighbouring teeth, leading to more damaged teeth when left untreated. A root canal treatment helps prevent further infection of the damaged tooth and prevents the spread of infection to adjacent teeth.
Boosts Teeth Aesthetics
A root canal treatment helps you keep your natural smile. Instead of getting fitted for artificial teeth, which may require repeated dental procedures and fittings, a root canal treatment helps preserve your natural teeth and lends a better aesthetic appeal.
Your endodontist may also recommend an appropriate dental cosmetic procedure and follow-up appointments after the initial treatment to maintain your natural tooth’s colour.
Prevents Jawbone Degeneration
One of the severe complications of badly decayed teeth is an infection of the underlying bones and connective tissue. When left untreated, an infection leads to a deep decay affecting the jawbone. Treating the pulp infection and removing the diseased pulp helps prevent serious complications such as jawbone degeneration.
Boosts Oral and Overall Health
The Australian Department of Health and Aged Care stresses the importance of oral health for overall well-being. Besides helping you keep your natural teeth, a root canal procedure can help prevent serious health complications such as heart disease, which has been shown to have some relation to teeth and gum infections.
It is a Virtually Painless Procedure
Local anesthesia is used to numb the area before a root canal treatment. Although there will be some mild discomfort during the procedure as your decayed tooth gets treated, it is generally painless. Part of a root canal treatment is removing the tooth’s nerve, which is responsible for pain sensations.
After the treatment, your dentist or endodontist will send you home with anti-inflammatory medications to help treat swelling, prevent pain, and avoid root canal complications.
Get to the Root of The Problem
Root canal treatments help address tooth pain and prevent tooth loss by preserving the integrity of natural teeth. This dental procedure has an efficacy rate of up to 95% when done correctly.
Medicare does not cover a root canal and other dental procedures; however, many dental insurance plans may have provisions for coverage for the procedure’s cost. Great Alpine Dental has flexible payment plans to help you achieve that perfect smile without burning a hole in your pocket. Our team of qualified dental professionals will ensure that you keep your natural smile beaming for longer.
Contact us today to book a consultation.
